A Novel Branched–Hyperbranched Block Polyolefin Produced via Chain Shuttling Polymerization from Ethylene Alone

A novel branched-hyperbranched polyethylene was synthesized via chain walking and chain shuttling polymerization by one step. In polymerization, {2,6- ⁱ Pr₂-C₆H₃N?C(CH₃)-(CH₃)C?N- ⁱ Pr₂-C₆H₂}NiBr₂(CatA) and {2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃N?C(CH₃)-(CH₃)C?N-Me₂-C₆H₂}NiBr₂(CatB) was adopted to yield branched and hyperbranched segments via chain walking polymerization at one ethylene atm and 20°C, respectively. Then the chain transfer agent(ZnEt₂) facilitated chain transfer between two active metal centers to accomplish chain shuttling polymerization of ethylene. This strategy stands out from “living”/controlled polymerization and coupling block polymers techniques for just using ethylene as monomer, carrying out under moderate polymerization and obtaining the resultant polymer with novel microstructure.     

Hydrosilylation Synthesis of New Ferrocenylene Copolymers Containing Carbosilylene,Carbosiloxy and Cyclopentadienyliron Dicarbonyl Bridges

Bifunctional organometallic silicon precursor monomers and substrates FC(SiMe₂H)₂ (1) [FC = (η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)]; FC(SiMe₂(CH₂)_xCH=CH₂)₂ [x = 0 (2), 1 (3)], [η⁵-C₅H₄-SiMe₂(CH₂)_xCH=CH₂)]Fe(CO)₂SiMe₂(CH₂)_xCH=CH₂ x = 0 (4), 1 (5) and (η⁵-C₅H₄-SiMe₂H)Fe(CO)₂SiMe₂H (6) have been used to make a series of new iron containing polymers via hydrosilylation reactions. In addition to the vinyl- and allyl-containing substrates 2, 3, 4 and 5 the organosilicon compounds [CH₂=CHSiMe₂]₂O, 1,4-(H₂C=CH-SiMe₂)₂C₆H₄ and (HC≡CH–SiMe₂)₂O were also used as substrates for the hydrosilylation reaction. The reactions between the various SiH and CH=CH₂ and C≡C functionalities were performed in the presence of Pt(0) catalyst and resulted in regioselective (β-isomer and β-(E) isomer) products as determined by NMR spectroscopy. Molecular weights of all the polymers were determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography, which revealed oligomeric materials with narrow polydispersity. Cyclic voltammetric studies of exhibited single reversible redox processes due to the Fe(II)/Fe(III) couple when present, and irreversible oxidation for the presence of any Fp Fe atom. This article is dedicated to Professor Astruc.     

Study of the cytotoxic activity of alkenyl-substituted ansa-titanocene complexes

The cytotoxic activity on tumour cell lines, human adenocarcinoma HeLa, human myelogenous leukemia K562, human malignant melanoma Fem-x and normal immunocompetent cells, was tested for four different ansa-titanocene dichloride derivatives with potentially reactive substituents [Ti{Me(CH₂CH)Si(η⁵-₅Me₄) (η⁵-C₅H₄)}Cl₂] (1), [Ti{Me(H)Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)₂}Cl₂] (2), [Ti{Me{(CH₂CH)Me₂SiCH₂CH₂}Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄)}Cl₂] (3) and [Ti{Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)(η⁵-C₅H₃(CMe₂(CH₂CH₂CHCH₂)))}Cl₂] (4), showing a very promising activity and opening up the possibility of extensive investigation in this field.     

Unique and contrasting mixed-metal lithium–calcium and lithium–barium hexamethyldisilazide complexes

Addition of lithium hexamethyldisilazide to calcium or barium bis(hexamethyldisilazide) in THF resulted in the synthesis of two unique but very different mixed-metal complexes: X-ray crystallography shows these to be, respectively, the heterobimetallic complex [Ca{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃Li(THF)] (1), containing two calcium–lithium bridging amide ligands and the remarkable co-crystalline compound [Ba{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂(THF)₃][Li₂{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂(THF)₂] (2).     

An easy entry to novel early–late oligonuclear transition metal complexes containing π-conjugated systems

Heterotrinuclear Ti–Cu–Ru (5) and heterotetranuclear Ti–Cu–Pt–Fe (7) containing complexes are accessible by using {[Ti](CC^tBu)₂}CuMe (1) ([Ti]=(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti) as key molecule; in 5 and 7, the corresponding early and late transition metal atoms are linked by π-conjugated organic moieties.     

Unsolvated “carbons apart” neodymacarborane sandwich stabilized by bis(η6-benzene)potassium cation: a unique dimeric mixed-metal sandwiched ion-pair

The reaction between NdCl₃ and potassium metal in a 1:4 molar ratio in THF, followed by the addition of 2 equivalents of 1,2-(SiMe₃)₂-1,2-closo-C₂B₄H₄ (1), produced the novel dimeric, mixed-metal sandwiched ion-pair, {2,2^′,4,4^′-(SiMe₃)₄-5,6-[(μ-H)₂K(η⁶-C₆H₆)₂]-1,1^′-commo-Nd(η⁵-2,4-C₂B₄H₄)₂}₂ (2), in 78% yield, after re-crystallization in benzene. The simultaneous cage opening/metalation product 2 was verified by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Metallacarboranes as an anion and a cation in a single species: a unique example for ion pairs

The reaction of closo-exo-5,6-Na(THF)₂-1-Na(THF)₂-2,4-(SiMe₃)₂-2,4-C₂B₄H₄ (1) with anhydrous NdCl₃, in a molar ratio of 2:1, produced the full-sandwiched neodymacarborane, 2,2^′,4,4^′-(SiMe₃)₄-5,6-[(μ-H)₂Na(THF)₂]-1,1^′-commo-Nd(η⁵-2,4-C₂B₄H₄)₂ (2), as a yellow-green crystalline solid in 80% yield. Compound 2 was further reacted with NdCl₃, in 3:1 molar ratio, in a solvent mixture of dry benzene and THF to produce, in 75% yield, the novel dimeric ion-pair, {[closo-1-Nd(μ-H)₆-2,4-(SiMe₃)₂-2,4-C₂B₄H₄]⁺[1,1^′-(THF)₂-2,2^′,4,4^′-(SiMe₃)₄-5,5^′,6,6^′-(μ-H)₄-1,1^′-commo-Nd(η⁵-2,4-C₂B₄H₄)]⁻(C₄H₈O)(C₆H₆)₂}₂ (3), consisting of a half-sandwich cationic neodymacarborane that is coordinated to anionic full-sandwiched neodymacarborane. Thus, a dual role of metallacarboranes as both the cation and the anion in a single species has been exemplified.     

General aspects of ethylene polymerization by d0 and d0f n transition metals

We present a generalized view of d⁰and d⁰f ⁿ metal complexes as olefin polymerization catalysts from computational studies of the {L}M–C₂H₅ ^(0,+,2+)-fragments (M = Sc(III), Y(III), La(III), Lu(III), Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Ce(IV), Th(IV) and V(V); L = NH–(CH)₂–NH^2- {1}, N(BH₂)–(CH)₂–(BH₂)N^2- {2}, O–(CH)₃–O^- {3}, Cp₂ ^2- {4}, NH–Si(H₂)–C₅H₄ ^2- {5}, {(oxo)(O–(CH)₃–O)}^3- {6}, (NH₂)₂ ^2- {7}, (OH)₂ ^2- {8}, (CH₃)₂ ^2- {9}, NH–(CH₂)₃–NH^2- {10} and O–(CH₂)₃–O^2- {11}). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Migratory insertion reaction in alkenyl ruthenium(II) complexes containing a trifluoroacetate ligand. X-ray structure of the Ru(η2- O2CCF3)(η1-OCCHCHtBu)(CO)(PPh3)2 complex

Reaction of compound Ru(O₂CCF₃)(CHCH^tBu)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ with CO gives the η¹-alkeneacyl complex Ru(O₂CCF₃)(OCCHCH^tBu)(CO)(PPh₃)₂, which is in equilibrium with the dicarbonyl Ru(O₂CCF₃)(CHCH^tBu)(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ derivative in CH₂Cl₂ solution. The η¹-acyl form involves an η¹-coordination of the O₂CCF₃ ligand, whereas the dicarbonyl form contains the carboxylate ligand η²-coordinated to the metal. The same mixture of carbonylated compounds can be obtained from the reaction of Ru(CHCH^tBu)Cl(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ with Na[O₂CCF₃] in a CH₂Cl₂/MeOH solution. These reactions reveal the significance of ancillary bidentate ligands for the η-nature of the acyl–metal bond. The molecular structure of the complex Ru(O₂CCF₃)(OCCHCH^tBu)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ was established by X-ray diffraction study of a monocrystal obtained from a CH₂Cl₂/MeOH solution of the mixture of carbonylated compounds.     

Polyorganosiloxanes containing both ester and hydride functionalities: A detailed study by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

A total of eighteen linear polysiloxanes of general formula Me₃SiO-(MeSi(E)O)_x(MeSi(H)O)_ySiMe₃ (E = —(CH₂)_nester; x+y = 40) have been prepared by the platinum catalysed addition of CH₂=CH(CH₂)_n-2 -ester to Me₃SiO-(MeSi(H)O)₄₀SiMe₃ under anhydrous conditions. Polymers containing the ester functionalities—(CH₂)₃CO₂R(R = Me, CF₃, Et, Pr, and CH₂COMe),—(CH₂)₃-CHMeCO₂Et, —(CH₂)₂CH(CO₂Me)₂, —(CH₂)₃CH(CO₂Et)₂, -(CH₂)₃CO₂CH= CHCO₂CH₂CH=CH₂ and —(CH₂)₃CO₂C₆H₄CO₂ CH₂CH=CH₂ have been characterised by analysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Factors affecting Markownik off versus anti-Markownikoff addition of allyl acetate to this polymethylsiloxane have also been explored.     

Enhanced Hydrogenation Activity and Recycling of Cationic Rhodium Diphosphine Complexes through the Use of Highly Fluorous and Weakly‐Coordinating Tetraphenylborate Anions

The effect of the nature of the anion on the performance of ionic rhodium catalysts has received little attention. Herein it is shown that the use of highly fluorous tetraphenylborate anions can enhance catalyst activity in both conventional and fluorous media. For hydrogenation catalysts of the type [Rh(COD)(dppb)][X] {COD=1,5‐cis,cis‐cyclooctadiene; dppb=1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane; X=BF₄⁻ ( 1a ), [BPh₄]⁻ ( 1b ), [B{C₆H₄(SiMe₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 1c ), [B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂‐3,5}₄]⁻ ( 1d ), [B{C₆H₄(SiMe₂CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 1e ), [B{C₆H₄(C₆F₁₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 1f ) and [B{C₆H₃(C₆F₁₃)₂‐3,5}₄]⁻ ( 1 g )} the activity towards the hydrogenation of 1‐octene in acetone increased in the order 1c < 1b < 1e < 1a < 1d ~ 1f < 1g with 1g being twice as active as the commonly applied 1a . Despite the fluorophilic character introduced by the substituted tetraarylborate anions, the presence of some perfluoroalkyl‐substituents in the cation was still required for achieving high partition coefficients. Therefore, [Rh(COD)(Ar₂PCH₂CH₂PAr₂)][X] {Ar=C₆H₄(SiMe₂CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃)‐4, X=[B{C₆H₃(C₆F₁₃)₂‐3,5}₄]⁻ ( 3f ); Ar=C₆H₄(SiMe(CH₂CH₂C₆F₁₃)₂)‐4 and X=[B{C₆H₄(C₆F₁₃)‐4}₄]⁻ ( 2g )} were prepared, which were active in the hydrogenation of 1‐octene, 2g even more so than 3f . Both these highly fluorous catalysts could be recycled with 99% efficiency through fluorous biphasic separation, whereas the corresponding BF₄⁻ complex of 2g ( 2a ) did not show any affinity for the fluorous phase.     

Homopolymerization of styrenic monomers and their copolymerization with ethylene using group 4 non-metallocene catalysts

Homopolymerization of styrenic monomers (St, p-Me-St, p-tBu-St, p-tBuO-St) and their copolymerization with ethylene, with the use of [(^tBu2O₂NN′)ZrCl]₂(μ-O) ( 1 ) and (^tBu2O₂NN′)TiCl₂ ( 2 ), where ^tBu2O₂NN′ = Me₂N(CH₂)₂N(CH₂-2-O⁻-3,5-tBu₂-C₆H₂)₂, is explored in the presence of MMAO and (iBu)₃Al/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄. The ethylene/styrenic monomers copolymerization with 1 /MMAO produces exclusively copolymers with high activity and good comonomer incorporation whereas the other catalytic systems yield mixtures of copolymers and homopolymers. The use of p-alkyl styrene derivatives instead of styrene raises the catalytic activity, comonomer incorporation and molecular weights of the copolymers. Complex 2 exhibits higher activity in homopolymerization of styrenic monomers than 1 irrespective of the kind of the activator employed. A clear dependence is observed for the molecular weight and catalyst activity against the kind of the styrenic monomer. The obtained polymers were atactic and only the complex 2 , when activated by MMAO, promoted the highly syndiospecific polymerization of p-Me-St and p-tBu-St. Poly(p-tBuO-St) exhibits fiber-forming properties.     

Structural differences of half-sandwich complexes of scandium and yttrium containing bulky substituents

Scandium and yttrium half-sandwich chloride complexes (η⁵-C₅Me₄R)ScCl₂(THF)₂ R = CH₂Ph (3) or SiMe₂CH₂CH₂Ph (5) and (η⁵-C₅Me₄R)YCl₂(THF)₂ R = CH₂Ph (4) or SiMe₂CH₂CH₂Ph (6) were prepared by metathetic reactions of the corresponding substituted lithium or potassium cyclopentadienides with scandium or yttrium trichloride. A mutual comparison of the determined solid state structures of 4 and 5 revealed the tetranuclear character in the case of scandium complex containing C₅Me₄SiMe₂CH₂CH₂Ph ligand, while a formation of the trinuclear ate-complex 4 incorporating lithium was observed for the combination of yttrium and the benzyl substituted tetramethyl cyclopentadienyl. Moreover, the steric effect of addition of another differently substituted cyclopentadienyl ring into the molecule was evaluated.     

Synthesis of a ruthenium complex of a cyclic trifunctional η6, η1, η1-arene–diphosphine ligand by intramolecular dehydrofluorinative carbon–carbon coupling

Treatment of the ruthenium complex cation [(η⁶-C₆H₃Me₃-1,3,5)(RuCl(dfppe)]⁺ {dfppe=(C₆F₅)₂PCH₂CH₂P(C₆F₅)₂} with proton sponge yields [{η⁶,η¹,η¹-C₆H₃Me-5-[CH₂-2-C₆F₄P(C₆F₅)CH₂]₂-1,3}RuCl]⁺ by stepwise intramolecular dehydrofluorinative carbon–carbon coupling.     

Semi-rigid N-para-ferrocenyl(benzoyl)amino-acid esters for biomaterials: synthesis and characterization of Fc-C6H4CONHCH(R)CO2Me where Fc = (η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4) and R=H,CH3,CH2CH(CH3)2,CH2C6H5 and the X-ray crystal structures of Fc-C6H4CO2Me and the l-alanine derivative Fc-C6H4CONHCH(CH3)CO2Me

A series of N-para-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl amino-acid esters, para-Fc(C₆H₄)CONHCH(R)CO₂CH₃ {Fc = (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄); R = H, CH₃, CH₂CH(CH₃)₂, CH₂C₆H₅}, 3–6 have been prepared by coupling para-(ferrocenyl)benzoic acid to the amino-acid esters (gly, l-Ala, l-Leu, l-Phe) using the standard 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) protocol. The compounds were fully characterized by a range of spectroscopic techniques including FAB-MS. The X-ray crystal structures of the parent para-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl methyl ester, Fc-C₆H₄CO₂Me, 1 and a chiral derivative N-{para-(ferrocenyl)benzoyl}-l-alanine methyl ester, Fc-C₆H₄CONHCH(CH₃)CO₂Me, 4 have been determined.     

Metallkomplexe mit biologisch wichtigen Liganden. CXXIII. Darstellung von Isophthaloyl‐ und Terephthaloyl‐di‐[(β,γ,δ)‐amino‐α‐aminocarboxylat]‐verbrückten zweikernigen Ruthenium‐, Rhodium‐ und Iridium‐Halbsandwich‐Komplexen

The reaction of the Cu(II) bis N,O‐chelate‐complexes of L‐2,4‐diaminobutyric acid, L‐ornithine and L‐lysine {Cu[H₂N–CH(COO)(CH₂)_nNH₃]₂}²⁺(Cl^–)₂ (n = 2–4) with terephthaloyl dichloride or isophthaloyl dichloride gives the polymeric complexes {‐OC–C₆H₄–CO–NH–(CH₂)_n–CH(nh₂)(COO)Cu(OOC)(NH₂)CH–CH₂)_n–NH‐}_x 1 – 5 . From these the metal can be removed by precipitation of Cu(II) with H₂S. The liberated ω,ω′‐N,N′‐diterephthaloyl (or iso‐phthaloyl)‐diaminoacids 6 – 10 react with [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂, [Ru(C₆Me₆)Cl₂]₂, [Cp*RhCl₂]₂ or [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ to the ligand bridged bis‐amino acidate complexes [L_n(Cl)M–(OOC)(NH₂)CH–(CH₂)_nNH–CO]₂–C₆H₄ 11 – 14 .     

The Kinetic Stability of Cationic Benzyl Titanium Complexes that Contain a Linked Amido-Cyclopentadienyl Ligand: The Influence of the Amido-Substituent on the Ethylene Polymerization Activity of “Constrained Geometry Catalysts”

Cationic benzyl titanium complexes [Ti(η⁵: η¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂NR')-(CH₂Ph)]⁺ were cleanly formed by the reaction of the dibenzyl titanium complexes [Ti(η⁵: η¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂NR')(CH₂Ph)₂] with B(C₆F₅)₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] in bromobenzene. NMR spectroscopic studies suggest that the benzyl titanium cations contain a fluxional η²-coordinated benzyl ligand. Kinetic analysis showed that the benzyl titanium cations decompose according to first-order kinetics and that the amido substituents R' (R' = Me, ⁱPr, ^tBu) in the linked amido-cyclopentadienyl ligand influence the lability of these benzyl titanium cations. The order of the kinetic stability of the benzyl titanium cations was found for both anions to follow the order R' = Me > ⁱPr > ^tBu. The benzyl titanium cations generated with [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] were found to undergo faster decomposition than those generated with B(C₆F₅)₃. The ethylene polymerization activity order for both systems was found to be the reverse: R' = ^tBu > ⁱPr > Me. The decomposition of the benzyl titanium cations was suggested to occur via C—H activation with concomitant toluene elimination.     

Silyl group mediated linkage of closo-C2B10-cage to nido-C2B4-carborane: synthesis of the novel carborane ligand, 1-R-2-[5′-(SiMe2CH2)-2′,3′-(SiMe3)2-2′,3′-C2B4H5]-1,2-C2B10H10 (R=Me,Ph)

The reaction of the sodium salt of the monoanion, nido-[2,3-(Si(CH₃)₃)₂-2,3-C₂B₄H₅]⁻, with (chloromethyl)dimethylchlorosilane in a 1:1 molar ratio produced the B_(cage)-substituted cluster, nido-5-ClCH₂Si(CH₃)₂-2,3-(Si(CH₃)₃)₂-2,3-C₂B₄H₅ (1), in 81% yield. This product (1) was reacted further with the lithium salt of [closo-1-R-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀]⁻ monoanion (R=Me, Ph) to give the novel linked and mixed C₂B₄/C₂B₁₀ carborane species, 1-Me-2-[5^′-SiMe₂CH₂-2^′,3^′-(SiMe₃)₂-2^′,3^′-C₂B₄H₅]-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (2), 1-Ph-2-[5^′-SiMe₂CH₂-2^′,3^′-(SiMe₃)₂-2^′,3^′-C₂B₄H₅]-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (3), in yields of 76% and 81%, respectively.     

Synthesis,Surface and Antimicrobial Activities of Novel Cationic Gemini Surfactants

A series of novel cationic gemini surfactants [C_nH_2n+1–O–CH₂–CH(OH)–CH₂–N⁺(CH₃)₂–(CH₂)₂]₂·2Br^? [ 3a (n = 12), 3b (n = 14) and 3c (n = 16)] having a 2‐hydroxy‐1,3‐oxypropylene group [?CH₂–CH(OH)–CH₂–O–] in the hydrophobic chain have been synthesized and characterized. Their water solubility, surface activity, foaming properties, and antibacterial activity have been examined. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the novel cationic gemini surfactants are one to two orders of magnitude smaller than those of the corresponding monomeric surfactants. Furthermore, the novel cationic gemini surfactants have better water solubility and surface activity than the comparable [C_nH_2n+1–N⁺(CH₃)₂–(CH₂)₂]₂·2Br^? (n‐4‐n) geminis. The novel cationic gemini surfactants 3a and 3b also exhibit good foaming properties and show good antibacterial and antifungal activities.     

Syndio‐ and Isoselective Coordinative Chain Transfer Polymerization of Styrene Promoted by ansa‐Lanthanidocene/ Dialkylmagnesium Systems

Combinations of the discrete neutral allyl ansa‐lanthanidocenes {Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)}Nd[1,3‐ (SiMe₃)₂C₃H₃] and rac‐{Me₂C(Ind)₂}Y[1,3‐ (SiMe₃)₂C₃H₃] with di(n‐butyl)magnesium constitute efficient binary catalytic systems for the stereocontrolled coordinative chain transfer polymerization of styrene, yielding near‐perfect syndio‐ and isospecific polystyrenes, respectively, with high activities and productivities. By adjusting the amount of di(n‐butyl)magnesium, up to 200 polymer chains can be generated per lanthabide center, and good control of the molecular weight features enables the tailoring of low to medium molecular weight polymers.